RESIDENTS in Newent are being invited to have their say on the future ownership and maintenance of the Meek Road Amenity and Play Area, as Newent Town Council considers taking over responsibility for the site.

The amenity and play area is currently owned and maintained by Forest of Dean District Council. Newent Town Council is now consulting with residents on whether it should adopt the site, a move councillors say could allow decisions about the space to be made locally and tailored more closely to the needs of the town.

According to the council, taking on ownership could bring several potential benefits. These include improved local maintenance, a faster response to issues such as repairs or safety concerns, and greater local control over how the amenity and play area is managed and developed in the future.

Councillors believe this could help ensure the site continues to meet the needs of families and children in Newent.

However, the council has also made clear that adopting the site would come with additional costs. If the transfer goes ahead, it would result in an increase to the Newent Town Council precept. The estimated increase would be approximately £15.61 per year for a Band D household.

The council says this additional funding would be used to cover ongoing maintenance and management costs, including inspections, repairs and general upkeep of the amenity and play area.

They have stressed that no decision has been made at this stage and that residents’ views will play an important role in informing councillors before any final decision is taken. The consultation is intended to give people the opportunity to weigh up the potential benefits of local control against the impact on household bills.

Residents can respond to the consultation in a number of ways. Comments can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by writing to the Annexe Building at the rear of the community centre. Paper copies of the consultation form are also available at Newent Library for those who prefer to respond in person.

An online consultation form is available through the Newent Town Council website, allowing residents to confirm whether they support or oppose the town council adopting the Meek Road Amenity and Play Area and to provide additional comments.

As part of the consultation process, residents are asked to confirm their address details to verify responses. The council has said that any personal data collected will only be used for the purposes of this consultation and will not be shared. Information will not be kept longer than required, in line with data protection regulations.

The consultation will close on Friday, January 23. Once responses have been collected, councillors will review the feedback before deciding whether to proceed with the proposed transfer of ownership from Forest of Dean District Council to Newent Town Council.

Residents are being encouraged to take part in the consultation to ensure their views are heard, with the council highlighting that the decision could have a long-term impact on the management of the play area.